Year of the Witch (2 page)

            I glanced at my friend who paced the length of my room.  The pale, ice blue dress with thin straps she picked made her appear to be an ice maiden with her shiny black hair and flawless skin.  She seemed to sparkle from the inside out.  She caught me staring at her.

            “What!?  Omigod, I look hideous, don’t I?  Is it the zit on my forehead?  I knew we just should have cancelled.”

            Rachel started to flit around my room even more anxiously now.

            “Don’t be ridiculous!  You look gorgeous.  And there’s no zit.  I just wish I could pull off that dress like you do.”

            “Girl,” said Rachel, “Just wait until Rick gets a load of you in that red dress.  If that doesn’t set off a shape shift, I don’t know what will!”  Rachel laughed.

            I had been reluctant to buy the dress because it was flashier than I usually went for—but it was the flash of color that had drawn me to it.  Twirling in the mirror now to admire the flare of the full skirt, I was glad I had chosen it after all.  It seemed to fit me just perfectly.  The strapless bodice fit snug and showed off the brush of freckles across my shoulders.  Grams had convinced me to wear my hair down since I always had it up in a ponytail.  The hair brushing my shoulders when I twirled seemed to pull off the perfect effect.  But then again, Grams was always right. 

            Rachel and I heard the car pull into the driveway just then.  We shrieked in unison and jumped up and down.  I knew Grams had her camera ready and this one time I was happy about it.  Even though Jake wasn’t my date to the dance, I felt beautiful and planned to have some fun with my friends.  Plus, we had a mystery to solve, and tonight might give us some answers to just who the shape shifter was.

            The boys seemed as nervous as we did.  Jerod looked handsome in a suit with a tie that almost perfectly matched Rachel’s dress.  Rick had gone for a more renegade look with black pants and a black shirt.  The effect of it, with my red dress next to him, was stunning if I do say so myself.   After the several obligatory pictures, we all piled into the car Jerod had borrowed from his older brother. 

            I peeked back at the house before we pulled away and saw Grams watching for the glance back she knew I’d give.  She made brief eye contact with me long enough to shake her head deliberately.  Ah, that mean’t that she had picked up nothing out of the ordinary about either of our dates that would suggest any dog-like tendencies—at least not in that short time.  It would be up to me and Rachel to be on our toes for the rest of the evening to see if we picked up on anything else to suggest otherwise. 

            I really wish we’d had more time to conduct some research about shape shifters.  If we had some idea about how to “force” a shift, Rachel and I could make sure it

happens tonight at the dance.  Maybe I should text Devon and have her work on that.  She doesn’t like it when I “tell” her what to do, but she could just get over it, as far as I was concerned.  This was bigger than our little personal feud, and she would have to see that.

Chapter Nine

Apparently, I was the one that was going to have to “get over it.”  When Rachel and I arrived at the dance with Jerod and Rick, we were both stunned to see Devon already there.  True to form, she was dressed in black—but this black shimmered and swayed when she moved.  She looked lovely and for a brief second, I was glad she had joined us.  Until I saw her “date” walk up and hold his arm out to her.  It was Jake.  My Jake, to be more precise.  What the hell was she thinking?  She knows how I feel about him.

            “Hello, Devon.” I said, forced through gritted teeth.  I nodded at Jake in greeting.  I was worried that if I tried much more than that, I would betray and embarrass myself right here and now in front of everyone.

            Rachel stepped in and rescued me, despite her oblivious knowledge about my feelings for Jake.  Either way, she saved me.

            “Hey, bro.  What’s up, Devon?  Didn’t know the two of you planned to join us this evening.  How exciting.  The more the merrier, I always say.”  Rachel shoved her brother playfully.

            “You know me, sis.  I could take it or leave it.  But Devon convinced me it would be good for my image to join the guys off the field, as well,” said Jake.  “What’s up, guys!”  Jake stepped aside to talk to Jerod and Rick who had joined up with David and his date. 

            “You bitch!”  I whisper screamed at Devon.  “How dare you!”

            “Look,” said Devon, “be mad later if you must.  I don’t give a rat’s ass about Jake in that way.  I merely thought the more football players we had here, the better, since we suspect one of them.”

            “Oh, c’mon, Devon,” said Rachel.  “You can’t possibly suspect my brother is the shape shifter.  I mean, please, I live with him.  I’d certainly know if he was shifting into a dog.  Besides, there aren’t any in our direct family line.”

            “I know that.  I just figured the more eyes we had around helping us out, the better.  If you must know, I spelled him in the car on the way over here,” said Devon.

            “Did you have to spell him to get him to ask you to the dance, too, you pathetic loser?”  I just could not hold back my jealousy and anger.  I wanted to rip her blue-black hair out by the roots.

            Devon sighed.  “Look, I just spelled him to be more aware of those around him and to report back to us—to us, Trina.  Remember, we’re trying to figure this out all together.”

            I shrugged.  Rachel looked confused about my sudden hostile attitude towards Devon but said nothing.  I guess she’d merely gotten used to our constant bickering.  The music started again, and Rachel suggested we round up our dates for a dance.  We were pleased to see most of the football players dancing together in a big group with their dates.  It would be much easier this way for us to notice if someone slipped out. 

            Rick pulled me closer as the music slowed down.  I tried not to glare at Devon dancing with Jake.  And that’s when I heard all the gasps.  I turned, expecting to see something furry racing across the dance floor.  Instead, I saw the new guy, walking in with the hottest blonde to probably ever grace our school, in a slip of a dress.

Chapter Ten

            Once all of our dates had rushed over            to get a better look at the hot girl, under the pretense of saying hi to their new quarterback, the three of us took a moment to regroup.

            “I know that girl hasn’t step foot in a high school in years,” said Devon.  We snickered at her joke, but it was probably the truth.  Rumor had it that Sean was dating a college girl, and it sure appeared to be true.  We had all agreed that Sean was a total hottie, as well.

            “So,” I said, as I sneaked a peek at Sean in all his hotness, “what exactly do we know about our new quarterback anyway?  Maybe he’s our furry culprit.”

            “I know he was the big name on the football team at Fort Jackson High before his family had to move here.  My dad told me that,” said Rachel.  We knew that Rachel’s dad had been the first to meet the family when they moved to town.  Sean’s dad had joined the finance company where Rachel’s dad worked.  “They moved because Sean’s dad got the job offer.  I’m sure it’s been tough on him.”

            Devon and I glanced in Sean’s direction.  Surrounded by teammates and with his hot date on his arm, we seriously doubted that.  “I say we focus our investigation on him,” said Devon.  “He almost seems too perfect.”

            Unbelievably, I agreed with her.  “How will one of us ever get a chance to talk to him alone?  I mean seriously, look at us—look at her.”

            “Trina, Trina, Trina….you underestimate the power of the spell I placed on Jake.  We’ll get him to do our bidding for us.”  Devon smiled at me then turned and crooked her finger at Jake.  He walked right over.  When this was all said and done, I was going to have to borrow that spell book of hers. 

            I watched in spite as Devon whispered to Jake.  Jake nodded, grinned at her, and returned to his circle of friends.  I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands into fists.  I was going to kill Devon before this was all said and done.

            “Watch and learn, my little fledglings,” said Devon.  As the music started again, we watched in fascination as Jake walked right up to Sean’s date and asked her to dance.  She glanced at Sean, who nodded, and stepped away with Jake to blend in with the rest of the couples on the dance floor. 

            “Easy peasy, little ones.”  Devon smiled, smug that her plan worked like a charm.

“Now, Trina, you go talk to Sean and see what you can find out.”  She gave me a little shove in his direction.

            “What?  Why me,” I asked.  Devon shrugged.  “Look, he’s already met Rachel so she can’t really ask general questions about why he moved here and such.  Plus, I already did my part tonight.”

            I sighed.  Rachel nodded at me that it would all be all right.  I set my purse on the table in front of them.  “Fine, but before I do this, I’m going to pee and check my hair.”  Devon snickered.

            I walked out into the dark hall and made my way towards the girl’s restroom.  After taking care of the necessities, I washed my hands and fluffed my hair.  My red dress seemed to put color into my cheeks and lips, and I liked what I saw staring back at me in the mirror.  Until I saw someone behind me in my reflection.

            I gasped and turned quickly as he moved towards me.  “You know, this is the girl’s restroom, right?”  I took a step backwards for every step he took towards me. 

Chapter Eleven

“What are you doing in here?  Sean, right?”  I gulped loudly and could feel my heart racing in my chest.  He stared at me with a dark, penetrating gaze.  His dark brown eyes were such dark pools of liquid that I would have sworn they were almost black.

When I bumped into the wall behind me, I slumped against it.  He took one more step forward.  And then he sniffed me. 

“What the…” I paused and smelled the thick scent of musk in the air.

Sean leaned forward and ran his hand through my hair.  His gaze was mesmerizing and for a moment my brain and my mouth seemed to not be interconnected at all.  He pulled me towards him and fastened his mouth over mine.  His lips were warm and possessive, taking me as his own.  I think I moaned softly.  But it was the low growl in his throat that brought me back to my senses.

I pushed him away.  “Omigod…it’s you.”  The scent of musk in the air, so animal like, and the growl had confirmed it for me.  I raced towards the door, frightened to be alone and trapped with a creature I did not understand.

“Trina.”  His voice was thick and caused a deep reaction inside of me to start stirring.  “It’s important that I speak to you.  And alone.”  Sean took a few steps back from me.  “Forgive me for my intrusion into your…um…personal space, shall we say.  I haven’t exactly learned how to control all of my animal instincts.  And you, Trina, speak to my animal side.”

I found that highly difficult to believe.  He was spending time with the hottest girl I’d seen off the pages of a magazine.  I doubted he had trouble controlling his reaction to me.  “Whatever, Sean.  You have five minutes, and then I’m outta here.”

            Sean took a deep breath and began.  “My family comes from a long line of shape shifters.  We made a pact with the Council hundreds of years ago to help protect those families that the Council deems high risk for whatever reason.  Many times, as fledglings come to their power age, we are called in to protect the young witches.  Due to…”

            “Whoa…wait up…protect us from what?”  I had to know.

            “From the other clans of shape shifters, whose intentions are not honorable towards your kind.”  Sean let that sink in a moment.

            “Ok, so you—a shape shifter—is here with your whole furry family to protect some of the witches or soon to be witches from some other shape shifters.  Is that about right?”  I could hardly contain my skepticism, and it was apparent to him.

            He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.  “Number one, not all of us are furry.  That isn’t the only form we can take.  And number two, all you must believe is that I am here to help protect you and your family.”

            “Really?”  I have to admit that my interest was peaked.  “Why would me and my family be in danger?  And what would the other shape shifters want with us anyway?  I really don’t understand, Sean.”

            Sean turned his head suddenly, as if listening for something.  He nodded to himself and then pulled me with him towards the door.  “We must go now.  And quickly.  Something has happened.  Exactly what we had feared.  Your grandmother has been attacked by one of our enemy shifters.  We must hurry.  We need to get you to her immediately.”

            I felt faint as Sean dragged me down the hall and into the parking lot towards his car.  Not Grams.  I needed her.

Chapter Twelve

            Sean drove quickly towards the hospital.  I concentrated on breathing in and out and not crying.  It was some time before I realized that he still had a hold of my hand.  It was sort of soothing to me. 

            Sean continued to talk to me on the drive there, explaining to me that the shape shifters derive their power from mortal beings.  The more power they obtain, the more shapes they are able to shift into.  He explained that years ago, their enemy shifters began to seek their power from witches instead of humans.  He explained that it takes nearly a hundred human lives to equal the power they can obtain from the sacrifice of one witch. 

            “So, wait…”  I stopped Sean.  “You’re telling me that you and your family kill witches to become more powerful?” I was beginning to feel sick to my stomach. 

            “No, Trina.  My family has vowed to protect your kind.  The treaty we have with the Council benefits us both.  We increase our abilities to shift through learning to hone our skills via teachings from some of the strongest of your witches—like your grandmother.  We would never intentionally harm another being.”  Sean glanced at me.  “However, the others of our kind do not follow suit.  Your grandmother is a powerful witch, and I fear that they targeted your family because they suspect the power flows through you all.”